Counties of Wisconsin; 66; Wood County

Agriculture the paper industry and University of Wisconsin Extension programs are all part of the conversations to be heard on this edition of the counties of Wisconsin. Located in the center of the state Wood County is featured on today's program and. The conversations were recorded in late 1076 at the county seat of Wisconsin Rapids. Here now is Louis Rosen Dick agricultural agent and office chairman of the extension office in Wood County.

My guests are Marshall Experimental Farm Harold farmer. This is Robert Reich a farmer's wife and a little bit about our agriculture in the city. My right we have a gentleman who has been farming in the county for some time. Harold Iverson What are some of the practices that you have found to be essential in our farming situation in the county. Well I would say acid soil very heavy in the air in the farming area mostly in the northern part of North Central. We have about a lie a lot of great age requirements at least in the clay. Course now we're getting into the highly side

hills setter which is assisting us a lot in grades. And certainly one of the points that has been most important which no neighbor here recently has alluded to. Is this land smoothing program in other words getting this land drained properly is really number one because prior to that time money had been banned for life. Money had been spent for seed and fertilizer on a land that just was not fit to grow these crimes you mention lands with and I'm sure many of the folks listening are wondering what it was first of land smoothing away and smoothing really is the terminology that we've developed from the term land leveling the land level or started like a large grater Louis that was developed out in the western states for smoothing the land enough to make it applicable to surface irrigation. Professor Al white Oh right this is going to Wisconsin in the late 40s and early 50s.

And we don't try to level land but we try to smooth it out so we have no standing water. In other words a field will now be 100 percent productive innocent rather than 75 or 80 percent because it's an area that won't support crops. So this was a real step forward and in my mind and I'm sure Harold would agree it really is number one. We can't grow crops just by Wyoming and fertilizing growing in the proper seed if we don't have the soil the conversation continued with another area resident in Wood County. Forty seven percent of our farmers are part time farmers. And this leaves much of the chores for the ladies in Mrs. Bob Wright all is one of these individuals who is really the ramrod at the farm over in the Marshall the area one of the problems that we encounter in extension is we have the meetings but we don't usually realize change now

as a result of a pending the extension meeting. How have you changed your operation on your fire. Well we have. In our calf operation we have changed our. Calf raising I think this was one of our most important projects and now with our crops to go to the more. Later. Develop we also you have made quite a change in your building your farm building set up as far as your dairy operation. What changes have you made on the farm as far as the buildings your milking system and so on. Now we have. Built up three stall barn which was built eight years ago and four years ago we installed a. Double six milking parlor which I enjoy very much. And we have also remodeled our old barn into three stalls for here.

Now you made a comment you enjoyed your free stall. Do you like standing up looking go it's better than to begin bending and I'm sure that you're my going to do a little bit deal there. Definitely And you know if you put in a pipeline you still have to stoop and then were this way the cows come to you and you just stand in the Elk I consider it a really easy job. Next we turn to the 4-H programs and the foreach and youth. My name is great to be here and I need for each new page and here in Wood County. And with me as a guest today I have one I would you tell me cartoonist also here in Wood County fired shower who is a 4-H leader General leader of the dynamite Jay Jays which is a special education club here in Wood County and also Vanessa gabbler who is president of yark the Youth Association for Retarded Citizens and she's also a junior and leader of the

dynamite changes for each class. Lynette do you have any sort of background or some idea to give the people that are with a little bit of a better idea of what our Special Education clubs are. Well I special education clubs are young people who I. Developed and have special needs and they are members a 4-H clubs that have been set up in the county and there are three in the county at the present time and it is a rather unique situation because it's a new type of a 4-H Club and I think if we talk to our. Foreach people here who are in charge of one of the special education clubs they can give us some technical information on just what takes place with these youth that have special needs. How did the special education clubs get started in the county.

I think that it was approach to the arc in the arc ask for group to come in and they were looking for a leader and my daughter came home and I told her I thought I could help her out. How long have the special ed clubs been in existence here in what county bar. I know my JJ started in February yes 76 but the helping hands at Marshall has been going since. I think it's February of 75. So there are roughly about 2 years old now and the concept of the Knesset were where do you fit into all of this. What do you do with the dynamite. Well I help with different projects that we do. OK there is that unique area of what types of projects are these special education clubs primarily interested in. Mainly we do projects that were good hands like we do ceramics. And we make cookies I don't sleep.

OK. Can you elaborate a little bit on for example the projects that the dynamite J J Crew works when we have started with the terrarium which I think some of us can never grow but they think I had real good luck with Larry and we send this little how to take care of them and they took care of them very well. And then we went into the freeform ceramics and they did real well on them and we got reds and blues on there so I thought that was really good for them. From special education projects which are unusual among 4-H programs we moved to programs for urban young people. And with me I have one I would use home economist and Lois Smart who is our urban staff assistant. We would like to give you a little bit of background on the urban program here in Wood County as far as it is involved in 4-H. We are a county which is

borderline urban rural which means that we are half. Populated in the cities and half in the rural areas. Lois is primarily in charge of coordinating the foreach functions within the city of Wisconsin Rapids. Lois can you tell me a little bit about how long the program has been going and what your impressions are as far as the uniqueness. Of the urban program and in reference to the rural. Okay. Wood County was one of the counties that was awarded a grant about three years ago to began to establish 4-H clubs in the urban areas. And so now for the past three years they have had staff assistants whose main function it wants to develop for each clubs it would County include insolvent County we have now about 13 urban 4-H clubs and the total number in these

clubs is around 500. In Wood County Not only do we have the urban calls but we also develop short term programs geared for urban youth. Some of the things that we do are to have a summer program which was run so far around five weeks which is called something for summer. This is usually about 10 short term programs which runs for five weeks and usually encompasses about 20 volunteer leaders. No discussion on a special agricultural crop in Wisconsin. Here again is Louis Rosen My guest is they don't Johnson there was manager of the Ocean Spray cranberry company and in Wood County we are very proud of our great production. In fact Wood County is that leading cranberry county in the state of Wisconsin.

They help in your work with the cranberries. What is going on at the Green River marshes in the fall. The production time right certainly is and there are approximately 20 growers in the Wood County that girl cranberries on approximately. Twenty two hundred acres and harvest time is between the 15th of September and the 1st of November. What happens to the grand berries that are produced in Wood County. Where do they go. Well most of them come into our screening plant in that car which is located in southwestern County where they're screened and clean for our canning client which is located and you have a unique loading device that intrigues everyone that comes to bag I look at the operation.

What is the method that you use to unload your cranberry. This was installed in our plant approximately 10 years ago and at that time it really was unique it say you have. A motor that lifts a semi-trailer and it slowed at one time and by by a hydraulic process and loads of areas into a pool of water and a semi trailer with a full load of cranberries and weighs about 70 to 75 thousand pounds and it's all lifted up at once and then of course the berries roll off the end of it into this pool and it is kind of a experience to see a truck that's as long as a semi trailer and tractor all up in the air with this load on all at once. And I do know is that you have a number of people that are usually visiting. What is the thinking of the grand rigors as far as having all these people that come to visit their marshes during the production season because

it's a very very interesting operation. Where there are Ocean Spray planting back up there approximately 5000 people that come to visit us. In this short harvest period and everyone is under the tension of getting things harvested prior Prost and the like so it's a problem as well as the place because it's nice to have them see it and everyone know about grammar. But the same time there's always someone behind you trying to make sure they're getting their loads unloaded and their crops harvested. So cranberry production is a rather complicated shore and I several years ago we had a number of cranberry girls that came to our extension office and asked for help as far as education and since then we have begun the cranberry school and. I'd like to have your thoughts on the school day all this wears you out of cranberry. Being a cranberry industry certain this kind reschooling has been well worth

the effort put toward it since what counties located in the center of the state the growers in the whole state come February to this three or four day meeting and specialists in the business whether it's in culture or marketing or anything else related to it come from all over the nation to meet here with approximately 200 growers that attend this meeting it's certainly worthwhile and the attendance seems to get better every year. We talk about production. What do you do after the season is finished what is a typical cranberry operation with your plant at Babcock and the cranberry marshes that the girl at all the marshes in the state and the Course as well as what county you're under your geisha now and irrigation equipment to go along with it have to be cared for for winter and that's done right after the harvesting is over. Right after that

sometime in late November the first part of the Samberg flooding process begins where you put a price we have put a water over the vines to protect them from winter kill that could damage the. The vines in this foot of water of course freezes in gives it a form of insulation where the frost really doesn't penetrate much below this water. This frozen water and protects them and keeps them it's about 32 degrees and they're cared for over a window that way and then for the winter we do a lot of sanding or inch of sand is put on the beds it intervals of every three years I believe it is. And that takes quite a bit of winter and then the maintainance of things take place thereafter. So what's the one final question. Once a cranberry Marsh is established how often do you see the cranberry Marsh now level up. Say if for a fair bit of cranberries and planted with clippings

from the vines and it takes approx approximately 5 or 6 years to get it established and producing it once it is producing if you take care of it properly it will grow up somewhat like a grape vine for many many years if it's properly cared for the paper industry is also of importance in Wood County. With me now I have Daniel Meyer director of public affairs for the Consolidated paper company out of Wisconsin Rapids. Then the paper industry is a very significant part of our economy here in Wisconsin Rapids. Would you just briefly discuss the paper industry its magnitude in the area. I'm glad to Looey the grandest year significant in the area to date has been since the turn of the century softwood Khalidi. And the mills are some appliance or related paper industry manufacturing facilities and the software company area. Has been described by the Chamber of Commerce hears the roar

of the paper industry. Which means that we have a large employment and the production of quoted papers by consolidated papers and business papers by Nicholas up is very important. In fact these two firms have nationwide reputations and employ over 50 500 people. I believe that that makes something like just me actually a player in and with comedy. You spoke of the types of papers. Is your plan geared for the enamel paper and B because of paper amounts for another. Yeah yeah I'll buy just males produce code printing papers that are used in national publications such as Time Newsweek US News Better Homes and Gardens and of course the paper's special why is that in business papers which so many of them are printed could be annual reports. The sort of thing many of the commercial printing paper uses

their product to a crisis on nationwide. I guess I've already mentioned the employment industry and we can't believe it's also the largest tax payer I know noticed an article recently in a paper that the Texas by these two companies seems to me in dollars here. You think of the employment now would the paper mills primarily work a seven day week three shifts per day the preferred operation is seven days three three shifts or 24 hour day. This is the most economical way to operate. They're going to see a very highly capital intensive in industry manage to get a return on correct return on investment is necessary to once you get the machines going to keep them running a 24 hour basis. Where do you obtain the raw product for the paper industry. Well trees which we all know are a renewable resource our basic raw material. It was interesting I do note that about 5 percent of our with supply last year

came from treat farmers or farmers in Wood County that we paid about $550000 for that what. We have to go far beyond wood Conny though because their total consumption of wood last year exceeded by hundred thousand cars. We are fortunate though in central Wisconsin living in the middle of a hardwood forest. I think though we do face some challenges in the future in them in providing an adequate supply. Do you have any preference as to the Aspen and the maple the birch there sleeping and I'm the type of paper that is being produced mixed hardwoods includes all. Maple and so on. Aspen is it well it's I've heard would make it a separate category. We also used to use parking and there is not as much pine in Wisconsin and so in central Wisconsin particularly as we were

importing Woods's is not a common practice but you do import from Canada AM I RIGHT. Yes I'm special praise so afterwards. PS. Which brings us back to the primaries. We do have two imports from Michigan from Minnesota and some from Canada because there's not an abundant supply usually when we think up the raw product we think of the pulp trucks on the highways and driving into your grounds. Do you purchase any of your raw product in a chipped form. Yes we do. We use the residue from various bells and maybe in Wisconsin or nearby states. The sawmills of course are cutting with the mentioned lumber and we're using what was once waste and which was once burned in the old burners. Is your operation at the Consolidated papers then involved in recycling paper and saw that it is been

recycling peeper since 1918 is not a new business for us we have one machine that makes paper aboard and we consume about isn't always that machine. Our next guest talks in part about another important item. Money I have with me Marvin Colback Maher is a former extension employee in Wood County and now is associated with the People's State Bank at Hitsville. Our friend and ask her and he is primarily involved in the agricultural economy of that portion of the community. You're buying your major concern it would be in the area of capital and we are seeing more and more farmers that are substituting capital for labor. What criteria do you use as far as establishing whether a farmer will receive additional monies from your bank whether you can continue farming. Or whether he should probably be.

This continuing his farming program. I don't think my approach is any different than anyone else in the lending business. First of all we like to look at the character of the individual we're dealing with. And possibly the repayment ability of that debt. And I think with the application as I said before of his knowledge or any other. Knowledge that he can gain in order to do a good job those are the things that we like to look for. Now there are various tools we like to think of be it in a financial statement the use of good farm records. And along with good financial records I like to think of does that individual use you know testing records soil testing or any other type of records that will indicate to me that this person. Is concerned and is knowledgeable of what it takes in order to do a good job. If he can prove that to me that I think initially we have the start of a good loan and

reasonable assurance that with that knowledge ability he's going to do a good job. In our area we have a great need for the production practices because in essence our soils of Wood County in apparent stages are not productive soils and I have maintained that any farmer that can farm in Wood County can farm anyplace in the United States if he succeeds here. Now indebted NASS who has been looked upon as probably a scourge as far as a farmer is concerned. But today we look at indebtedness as being a and important tool as far as agriculture is concerned. Credit Yes Lee and I doubt very much if there are many people in this area or any area that are not in debt. In fact I would think that many farms that the debt is going to be passed on to members of the immediate family because it does take a lot of

credit a lot of money in order to get established and to maintain a good profitable farm operation. You mentioned something that brings something to mind. If my father were here today I'm sure he would not agree with us as yours would. And that is a term that we use quite frequently now. Perpetual indebtedness. Yes I think I related to that when I said that the debt would carry over and I think the state planning is an important part of any farm operation so that when we do have perpetual debt or a debt carryover from our family that has a large operation a large amount of debt. But in the transition from the city father and mother to his son and daughter. We do have a transitional debt but it is feasible but good estate planning is very essential.

The concluding conversation is led by a home economist Lucille CASSIDY And with me this morning I have Gail Paul Anger and then child and friend for Sadie and the five things that Gail and I have been talking about and working with you and Gail in extension. We have the umbrella of living with change and. I felt that we needed to take a good look at some of the factors that affect family living here in Wood County. I have been involved in child development classes prenatal classes and you were telling me about classes for mothers meeting together discussing problems of this type of thing. Yes fire is a total family and the life circle is concern considered. How do you know that we could approach a new program in family living and how that expanding family. Well I think it's important today because there's many factors in influencing family life. People see vast changes going on as a working

mother there's. There's more divorce going on there's a lot of things affecting family life. And people sometimes have questions and they're not able ever to find the answers to these questions and there's groping you know certain people say to people oh gee you know these are the causes a breakdown in family and in marriage and there's a lot of things happening this way. And I think there has to be some awareness made to the public of you know OK what actually are some problems facing the family here in Wood County as in other areas there's a lot that needs to be done. University of Wisconsin Extension staff members and several guests have been heard

in conversations on Wood County. Which with a population of about 65000 is located in central Wisconsin. It was featured today in the series the counties of Wisconsin produced at W.H. a radio a service of the University of Wisconsin Extension.